Carlos' Real career over?

Roberto Carlos' illustrious Real Madrid career appears to be drawing to a close after his red card in Saturday's clasico. The Brazilian left-back was sent off after just 25 minutes for allegedly abusing referee Luis Medina Cantalejo and one of his assistants in the 1-1 draw at the Nou Camp.

Medina Cantalejo indicated after the game that when Carlos pointed extravagantly to him and his assistant, he said, "You and you are a pair of shits".

But Carlos said the words used were, "You and your assistant do not understand shit about us".

The ex-Inter fullback believes that this does not constitute an insult and certainly did not merit a direct red card. He also claimed that he had asked the referee to take action over alleged racist chanting by Barca supporters, but was ignored.

Either way, he now seems certain to leave Real Madrid in the summer. He has not seen eye to eye with caretaker coach Juan Ramon Lopez Caro in recent months and

now faces a severe punishment from Real, who intend to make an example of the player to show indiscipline will not be tolerated.

He has another year on his current Real contract and has said

ROBERTO CARLOS

in the past that he intends to see it out, but he may not be given a choice.

If he were to play in 24 matches next season, his contract would automatically be extended for a further year, something that Madrid clearly no longer desire.